During the twelve years of the Third Reich, horse racing was a
very popular spectator sport. People flocked to the annual
national races in great numbers, even in the waning days of World War
II, when going to large public events meant taking the chance of getting
caught in an Allied bombing raid, but that didn't stop them at all.
Aside from the wagering aspects of the races, they were also major
social events, as is the Kentucky Derby, in the United States, today.
During the period from 1936-1944, the Third Reich sponsored a number of national horse races. As a result,
quite a few surtaxed postage stamps of the collecting thematic, horses
on stamps, were issued. The surtaxes on these German stamp issues
usually went to pay for the event or to provide the funding for the
sweepstakes prize.
The Brown Ribbon of Germany
The Brown Ribbon of Germany was an annual July horse race run in Munich (Riem), from
1934 to 1944. One of the best known racing venues in Germany was the race
track at Riem, just a few short miles from Munich. It was the home of
International Racing Week, and as part of the Brown Ribbon of Germany,
all sorts of of events took place - track racing, hurdles, and even
steeplechase.
Surtaxed postage stamps
(below) were first issued for the event in 1936 and the issues were
continued annually until 1944. All of these issues feature horse
themes, and the stamps are marvelous examples of the engraver's art.
1936 (left), from the souvenir sheet. Stamp shows jockeys racing horses.
1937 (right), from the 1936 souvenir sheet. The stamp portion was overprinted "1 AUGUST / 1937 / MUNCHEN- / RIEM".
1938 (left). Goddess of Victory riding a horse, extending her left arm, in which she holds a victory wreath.
1939 (right). Man holding the reins of two rearing horses.
1940 (left). Ancient warrior, holding wreath of victory, and riding in a chariot, drawn by three horses.
1941 (right). Amazons, with shields and spears, riding galloping horses.
1941 Brown Ribbon stamp issue on cover, dated July 27, with a commemorative cancel.
1942 (left). Brown Ribbon of Germany banner in front of three racing horses.
1943 (right). Hunter on horseback, blowing a horn.
1944 (Center). Race horse with foal.
German Derby
The German Derby is an annual race for three-year-old colts and fillies, usually run in Hamburg around July.
1939 (Above). Race horse "Investment" and jockey.
Issued to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the German Derby. The surtax was
divided between Hitler's National Culture Fund and the race promoters.
The Blue Ribbon Race
During
the Second World War, the German Derby became known as the "Grosser
Deutschlandpreis der Dreijahrigen" um "Das Blaue Band" or, loosely
translated, the "Greater Germany Sweepstakes of Three-year-olds" in "The
Blue Ribbon" race. Surtaxed stamps (below) were issued during
1940-1942 for the race, which was run in Hamburg. In 1943 and 1944, the
race was relocated to Hoppegarten.
1941 (Top), 1940 (Left), 1942 (Right). Race horses.
The Grand Prize of Vienna at Freudenau
The
race track in Freudenau, the port section of Vienna, was built in 1839
by the Vienna Horse Racing Society. The Imperial Box and the covered
grandstands were added in 1870. Historically, in Austria, horse racing
was a huge spectator sport during the Imperial period, especially for
the upper classes, royalty, and military officers.
The two sets of stamps, shown above, were issued in 1943 and 1944 under the Third Reich for the Vienna horse race in Freudenau.
For the thematic / topical stamp collector or the
philatelist, all the Third Reich horse racing stamp issues shown on this
page are available with many fancy, commemorative cancels, both on
piece and on commercial and philatelic covers. Imperforate examples of a
couple of them are available, as well as ephemera, such as postcards
and tickets.
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Horse Racing Stamp Issues